Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will discontinue
publishing this website at the end of May (more...)
Search a Movie:
I'M STILL HEREMovie Reviews
Documentary that chronicles a year in the life of Joaquin Phoenix as he retires from acting and reinvents himself as a hip hop musician. Cast:Joaquin Phoenix, Antony LangdonDirector:Casey AffleckRelease Date:September 10, 2010DVD Release:November 23, 2010From:MagnoliaLength:1 hr. 48 min.
I'm Still Here played in key cities to mixed reviews. • Steven Rea wrote in the Philadelphia Inquirer, "...a fascinating look at the cloistered, coddled world of a movie star... strange, riveting, and occasionally appalling stuff..." • And Dana Stevens wrote for Slate, "After viewing this film I have no doubt that Phoenix is, whatever else he may be, a lost, fucked-up, and suffering man... a work of rank exploitation." More Reviews Below...
I'm Still Here Positive Reviews (44 Reviews, reviews below)
Alynda Wheat, People: POOR(cg) "...why bother making a pretentiously scuzzy film carrying out an elaborate joke the zeitgeist has already identified, mocked and dismissed?"(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 183 words, 09/09/10
Richard Corliss, Time: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a documentary, maybe a mockumentary.... a sad-amusing portrait of an actor between gigs. It certainly contains many vignettes worthy of a tell-all showbiz bio-pic."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,118 words, 09/06/10
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: MODERATE(cg) "If we're truly witnessing the unraveling of a talented man in his prime, it's just sad. If it's all performance art, though, it's just pointless."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 687 words, 09/09/10
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: MODERATE(cg) "...funny, disgusting and outright sad... shows Phoenix performing lame original hip-hop and bemoaning the price of fame... intrigues and irritates..."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 79 words, 09/16/10
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The real hoax is the one that Phoenix has perpetrated on himself. It's the illusion that he's a 'compli-f-in'-cated' rebel rather than just another vain burnout who needs help."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 717 words, 09/10/10
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a riveting experiment.... the damnedest plunge into the dark heart of our 'reality' culture since Sacha Baron Cohen invented Borat."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 121 words, 09/17/10
Claudia Puig, USA Today: POOR(cg) "It's really not much fun -- in fact it's painful -- to watch an actor on the verge of a nervous breakdown.... What, exactly, is the point of a joke that nobody really gets?"(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 572 words, 09/09/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "He was serious when he said he would never act again.... If this film turns out to be part of an elaborate hoax, I'm going to be seriously pissed."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 933 words, 09/09/10
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: FAIR "...the joke continues, sputters, occasionally hits its target and finally wears out its welcome... a deadpan satire or a deeply sincere folly... my money is on the first..."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,111 words, 09/10/10
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: POOR(cg) "The whole thing is pointless and disgusting, and its 'Entourage'-on-acid moments of Phoenix berating two put-upon toadies are eye-rollingly irritating."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 305 words, 09/10/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "...a convincing hoax, a glum and dispiriting counterfeit of reality that turns out to be much more interesting to speculate about than to actually watch."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 880 words, 09/10/10
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: MODERATE(cg) "...fails to answer the question most viewers will be asking: Is it real?... it's unclear who it's meant to amuse (besides its creators) or what it wants to say."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 254 words, 09/17/10
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: GOOD "To dismiss Phoenix's latest role because it's not 'real' is to miss out on the charge of watching an actor play footsy with his own, barely corralled dementia."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 470 words, 09/06/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "He was serious when he said he would never act again.... If this film turns out to be part of an elaborate hoax, I'm going to be seriously pissed."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 933 words, 09/09/10
Karina Longworth, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "...its apparent attack on the Hollywood machine is so insidery, so vicious, that to us -- the everyday consumer -- it's just not clear why this stunt needed to exist at all."(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,043 words, 09/08/10
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: WEAK(cg) "...more of an endurance test than anything resembling enlightenment... nearly two hours of profanity-laden and just plain embarrassing escapades."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 606 words, 09/24/10
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a fascinating look at the cloistered, coddled world of a movie star... strange, riveting, and occasionally appalling stuff, any way you look at it."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 589 words, 09/10/10
Peter Hartlaub, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: POOR(cg) "The Phoenix we see on screen is too self-centered to stay out of the spotlight. Eventually he'll provide some perspective when he explains this pretentious mess."(See all of Peter Hartlaub's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 701 words, 09/17/10
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: WEAK(cg) "...tiresome, muddied and artlessly made.... Even as a fake pot-bellied wreck of a pothead, Joaquin or JP or whoever he wants to call himself, is just not funny."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 591 words, 10/22/10
Peter Schilling, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: POOR(cg) "...tedious... Phoenix spends half the film with his head down, mumbling and shirtless... literally (and figuratively) an exercise in navel-gazing."(See all of Peter Schilling's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 298 words, 09/10/10
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD(cg) "Is it performance art, a wildly ambitious, caution-to-the-wind project cooked up by Phoenix and Affleck?... If so, it's effective, entertaining in a remarkably uncomfortable way..."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 747 words, 09/10/10
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "It's possible that this is Phoenix's greatest performance. It's also possible he'll never be allowed near a movie camera again."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 803 words, 09/10/10
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: VERY GOOD(cg) "...remarkable... a raw character study of a needy, duplicitous artist who wants to shy away from everyone while simultaneously seeking the spotlight."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 487 words, 09/17/10
John Hartl, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...most resembles a less slick, less witty, feature-length version of HBO's 'Entourage,' with several unusually raunchy touches..."(See all of John Hartl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 478 words, 09/10/10
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "Joaquin Phoenix has never been nearly as persuasive in his movie roles, not even the Oscar-nominated ones, as he is flailing about incoherently and self-destructively..."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 290 words, 09/10/10
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "I was astonished... It's brave, crazy, disgusting and touching, and as a deconstruction of celebrity culture, it's enough to make Madonna go gaga."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 374 words, 09/17/10
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: POOR(cg) "...an interminable movie experience.... the finest performance of Phoenix's career, if success is measured by breeding contempt."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 320 words, 09/16/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...feels utterly real and transparent. If the movie is a fake, the filmmakers deserve Oscars for creativity.... leaves an indelible, unsettling impression."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 645 words, 09/10/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (7 Reviews)
Karina Longworth, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "...its apparent attack on the Hollywood machine is so insidery, so vicious, that to us -- the everyday consumer -- it's just not clear why this stunt needed to exist at all."(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,043 words, 09/08/10
Chris Faraone, Boston Phoenix: WEAK(cg) "Of course it's fun to watch celebrities steer toward brick walls, but that doesn't change the fact that 'I'm Still Here' is just 'The Surreal Life' with A-listers."(See all of Chris Faraone's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 161 words, 09/16/10
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: VERY GOOD(cg) "...there's an immersive, unnerving fascination to 'I'm Still Here'... its greatest value is in pointing out the media's gullibility..."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 514 words, 09/09/10
Christopher Campbell, Cinematical: POOR "...a meta bore of media manipulation and scrutiny... an exercise in non-fiction and an experiment with documentary form, as failed as it may be in execution."(See all of Christopher Campbell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,028 words, 09/08/10
Simon Abrams, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "Phoenix and Affleck play out the film's proudly self-indulgent premise with a lot of almost-convincing deadpan footage and performances..."(See all of Simon Abrams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 728 words, 09/08/10
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...an ingenious public stunt worthy of the late Andy Kaufman... or a transfixing portrait of an untethered celebrity bedeviled by bad publicity and self-destructive instincts."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 710 words, 09/09/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (5 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: FAIR "...the joke continues, sputters, occasionally hits its target and finally wears out its welcome... a deadpan satire or a deeply sincere folly... my money is on the first..."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,111 words, 09/10/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "...a convincing hoax, a glum and dispiriting counterfeit of reality that turns out to be much more interesting to speculate about than to actually watch."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 880 words, 09/10/10
Dana Stevens, Slate: POOR "After viewing this film I have no doubt that Phoenix is, whatever else he may be, a lost, fucked-up, and suffering man... a work of rank exploitation."(See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 758 words, 09/09/10
Matt Zoller Seitz, Salon: VERY GOOD "...a performance art piece, an existential showbiz drama, a therapeutic exercise, an analysis of celebrity's impact on the self, and a glorified home movie.... strong stuff."(See all of Matt Zoller Seitz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,639 words, 09/10/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Leslie Felperin, Daily Variety: GOOD "...an utterly fascinating experiment that apparently blends real and faked material.... Whatever auds may think of Phoenix, there's no doubting his chutzpah..."(See all of Leslie Felperin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 944 words, 09/06/10
Deborah Young, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...might leave viewers with too much head-scratching uncertainty... Audiences who drink their documentaries straight, beware: This is one potent mixed cocktail."(See all of Deborah Young's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 659 words, 09/07/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "...a convincing hoax, a glum and dispiriting counterfeit of reality that turns out to be much more interesting to speculate about than to actually watch."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 880 words, 09/10/10
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: FAIR "...the joke continues, sputters, occasionally hits its target and finally wears out its welcome... a deadpan satire or a deeply sincere folly... my money is on the first..."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,111 words, 09/10/10
29.9 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
I'm Still Here's reviews are separated by an average 29.9 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
I'm Still Here (44 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:I'm Still Here's reviews cover 89.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 27,302 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 620 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
I'm Still Here Coverage, Volume & Length (44 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 17.4 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
I'm Still Here's reviews on average broke 17.4 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is I'm Still Here's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
I'm Still Here (44 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
